und ein tolles Anfängerprojekt, die Wolle strickt sich fast von selbst. This yarn is perfect for any beginning knitter, beautifully variegated with long color repeats in modern striking colours which will brighten the dark days and it knits up so fast, the second version in cool aqua and lovely greens will be ready when winter comes.Irish Moss- my Memory block study is on the quilting hoop so that it can be hung on the wall in january.This bluegreen Bekah fabric was a real challenge, it is so "uncolorful" with its limited colour scheme but worked out in an elegant and a quite visual relaxing piece in contrary to what I tend to work with.

.Er ist mittlerweile zu 2/3 fertig, muss er aber auch, schließlich will ich die Deadline 15.01 08 einhalten.Working on "Scrapparadise" is a kind of visual vacation which I need most in these grey, dull days, as are my frequent visits to blogs in Australia, New Zealand and South America where they indulge in colourbursting flowers !.

Last week a bulky packet full of new bolts hit the shop.What was amazing?I ordered a lot of blue greens and really........ I'm in the mood for some refreshening and relaxing times, things, landscapes, noises............

My new scarves are food for thought too:the first one, made of Debbie Bliss Cashmere Aran in a foggy sea green which went along with me on many road trips recently. I finished it yesterday and I admit I frogged more than usual. Knotty knits are better knit fully concentrated. It is so soft and cuddly I want to wear it instantly but it is 10°C outside. Too warm for a scarf?!

The other one made of Rowan Tapestry col. lakeland, a softly variegated soy yarn is waiting for its service since september. It is my second version of Karen Baumer'sMultidirectional scarf and a rather mindless knitting.

As I promised before, piles of my new fabrics are now made into 12" star blocks. My best loved, and I love them all, is the Memory block of the title. This Bekah green is a show stopper!Beautiful refreshening and relaxing.........perfect for an after xmas wall quilt which could be displayed until easter. Pattern and kit coming soon!

Eventually it's time for at least a fabric rainbow!New Oakshott fabrics arrived this week and make my day much more colourful:copper red, vermilion, tangerine, lilac, sky blue, apple green, lichen, sand and light denim. Yummy!They are pretty partners to the new range of Westminsters and add an elegant touch to every project with their shimmering surface.

I could not resist to order some of the weathered Shot Cottons who make every quirky print more tolerable in their neighbourhood and help to "ground" the quilt.My long time favourites putty, pewter and chartreuse came in large bolts. They are standing in the midst of the new autumn range and they go with everything. Marvelous! Now I am dreaming of new projects and in the same instant I know time is short to make them all. I plan to sew a 12" block with every new fabric so that one can get an impression of how beautiful the fabric works in a quilt. I browsed my quilt block library and already piled up some fqs. Monday Monday........

My exclusive range of Valdanis 35 wt. is complete for this year.sunny forest and green chestnut will add a little zing to all these autumnal fabrics.They made friends with Crabapples chestnut, Burnt wood rose moss and Lotus Leaf ochre but there are many others good matches.You can get these beauties in Europe only at cs quiltdesign and Quilt Cabin. They are real collector's items, so grab yourself one or two or three.......I have a treasure chest already of sparkling yarn jewels ,where I fondle and pet them when I choose one to quilt.

Birds and Paws, pattern and quiltkit coming soon, got the borders this morning before we went on an inescapable shopping spree with two of our kids. Son needed a windbreaker, he has outgrown his clothes in no time and weather got chilly, so his double sweatshirts were not sufficient any more. And we got one, I didn't believe it, he approved what I found in the third store.I got an instant gratification at the Hema store where I indulged Dutch christmas treats, eyeshadows in autumn colours, and peppermints, my soft spot:-)

With the help of two easy angle rulers cutting was done much faster.Birds in the air blocks were alternated with some big halfsquares and some paws of cats or racoons, since there are no bears in Midwest Germany :-D.

Dark reds and forest green are traditional and welcome.But what about these quirky winter fabrics from Westminster designed by Felicity Miller.Skates, drums and mittens on viridian green. Aren't they cute?

After a very busy week we try to relax and have a reposeful weekend.The wet november weather was perfect for staying indoors with a cup of tea.Just then I remembered Annettes invitation to the quilt show "Quilterleben" of the group "Roter Faden"which started yesterday at 3p.m. So again a road trip, just half an hour towards Wuppertal.

Many of the 60 quilts appealed to me a lot. Here are just a few impressions.

But not enough!Earth Music announced another "Just Jam" concert in the evening in their Earth Music Hall located in one of the industrial estates of Wetter.Mark Selby and the PeeWeeBluesgang were rocking and rolling until midnight.Great singers and guitar players. The best concert I ever heard there!

As some of you know already, I have always many projects on the go.This year I began to invest more time in knitting and crochet. So my spare time had to be split more and more. But it works against all odds. The different w(s)ip inspire one another and help to bridge the dry spells that come and go periodically in every crafter's life.

Deadlines and small steps are helpful to finish works like this pastel dream of a quilt which would look so good in our bedroom. It's still hanging on my hoop prone to cover tomcat Leo's derriere.

Doesn't work all the time.. if there is a week full of pre-election appointments with the contestants for the local mayor and some school meetings.Then you can see me spontaneously cutting fabric at nighttime for a red and green winter/ christmas quilt.

One of my newest works is this scrap quilt called Scraparadise which I began as an innocent looking BOM from Forum Farbstoff until I recognized it as a layout seen in one of my Japanese craft books. I simply had to go on! and altered some things as usual.So that's 75% of my version, growing fast, made entirely from stash even if my scrap bin doesn't seem to be reduced at all. Sigh!

Yesterday after harvesting a bowl of kiwi fruit, which thrives and prospers at the south wall of our garage I spend some time with woolwinder and swift to wind up some Malabrigo lace yarn skeins into these awesome little balls for lace stoles.In addition with some Addi lace needles they make a perfect gift for an avid lace knitter.I eventually started my Hanami stole in colourway Pearl Ten -an elegant grey brown. Someone asked recently for lace yarns so I started with a small range of Malabrigo colours which I will extend in near future.

You will find these and many other gift ideas in Geschenkideenfor every craft. And many more will come soon. I am waiting for the postman...

Every quilter would indeed love to get yards of fabric for christmas but fabric choice can be delicate so you can buy gift vouchers from next week on and be on the safe side. A good idea for knitters too.

A new yarn brand from Spain, Katia is the newest addition in the yarn section. Effect yarns knit up with needles 7 or 8mm will make wonderful last minute gifts for young people and are friendly to one's christmas budget.

I couldn't imagine last year to cope with this shop software thing but not only sh-- happens luck happens too. I started from scratch, now it works and that means more free time for DH who managed to do this job after his daily work. Would I really want another life ?Juggling not only my daily routine, household chores, teenagers, local politics and my own business and some unforeseen events too.Definitely NO!Okay, a cat on the lap , Amy Butler's new book, a cup of tea in the afternoon are fine and welcome...